Bajrang Dal accuses teacher of asking students to greet him with Salam Alaikum

Bajrang Dal and other Hindu extremist groups are known for targeting Muslims and Muslim institutions on various grounds, many times fabricated

Sunday December 2, 2018 11:04 AM, ummid.com & Agencies

Hardoi (Uttar Pradesh): Members of right wing Hindu extremist organisation Bajrang Dal in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday lodged a complaint with a government school principal against a Muslim teacher of Urdu subject alleging that he was asking students to greet him with "Salam Alaikum" instead of Good Morning.

Salam Alaikum is the Muslim greeting that means may peace be with you.

Members of Bajrang Dal came to the school situated in Sandila town of Hardoi district Saturday and said the Urdu language teacher, Ishtiaq Khan, had allegedly pressurised students to greet him with 'Salaam Alaikum', instead of wishing good morning.

"My niece told me that when she wished the teacher (Ishtiaq Khan) good morning, he said that don't greet me with good morning, and say 'Salaam Alaikum' instead. We came to the school and met with the principal. The principal said that she was not informed about the same, but added that if such a thing has happened then action would be taken", a Bajrang Dal member told news agency ANI.

Hemant Rao, Basic Education Officer, Hardoi said that a show cause notice has been issued to the Urdu teacher and action would be taken if the school authorities were not satisfied with his response.

"Some people have complained that Ishtiaq Khan, a Urdu teacher of a government school in Sandila is asking students to only greet him with 'Salaam Alaikum'. We have issued a show cause notice to him and will take action if we are not satisfied by his response," Rao said.

Bajrang Dal and other Hindu extremist groups are known for targeting Muslims and Muslim institutions on various grounds, many times fabricated. Such incidents have escalated in Uttar Pradesh ever since the BJP came to power in the state.